Vauxhall Agila Expression 1.0i 12v ecoFLEX 5dr Car Review - February 2012

There’s plenty of adjustment on the driver’s seat and steering wheel to make finding a good driving position an easy task for most people. The dash modern and is well designed with all the controls and switches well laid-out and easy to use. Forward visibility is good, although rear visibility is slightly hampered by the thick pillars.

The 69bhp 1.0-litre 3 cylinder 12 valve petrol engine fitted in this model is quite capable and potent enough for its size. It will go from 0-62mph in 14.7 seconds and tops out at a maximum speed of 99mph. Maximum pulling power of 66lb-ft of torque is produced mid range making it nippy at overtaking. It’s mated with a five-speed manual gearbox which works well and has a nice positive feel to it. The engine is badged as ‘Ecoflex’ which signifies excellent fuel economy of 58.9mpg on average, and low emissions. There is also a 1.2-litre version available if you would like just a bit more power.

The Agila’s handling is quite accomplished, soaking up all rough surfaces without fuss and feeling calm and surefooted on the motorway. Its agility and poise belies its small car size and make it a fun car to drive.

The smaller engine needs to be worked hard sometimes and you might expect it to be noisy but it’s quite well behaved and no worse than its rivals. Road and wind noise are nicely dampened inside the cabin too, which makes for a comfortable ride all round.

Style-wise there’s not much to set the Agila apart from its competitors. It looks pretty much the same as most small cars from the outside, however the interior, although well designed and laid-out, has a somewhat budget feel to it.

The Agila Expression is the entry level model and as such the equipment level is pretty basic. It comes with power steering, an immobiliser and CD player. Upgrading to one of the higher-spec models will get you air conditioning and alloy wheels. A stability control system is also available as a cost extra.

Inside there’s ample space, for a small car, and it will easily accommodate four adults. The boot provides a decent 225-litres with the rear seats in place and that can be extended to 1,050-litres with the rear seats folded down.

The Agila Expression comes with four airbags fitted as standard. The optional stability control system will set you back £465. Anti-theft measures include an engine immobiliser on the Expression version, while higher-spec models come with remote central locking with deadlocks.

The Agila is built by Suzuki and the build quality and finish are excellent as you would expect, so you shouldn’t have much to worry about with regards to reliability.

It is covered by Vauxhall’s 100,000 mile warranty, and regular service intervals are every 20,000 miles.

At £8,495 it seems a little pricey next to Suzuki’s Splash, however normal running costs are very low for the Agila. CO2 emissions are impressively low (109g/km) which put it in VED band B for Road Tax and insurance is in group 5. Fuel economy is excellent returning an average of 58.9mpg, so it certainly won’t strain your wallet to keep it going.

For the basic equipment you get on the Agila Expression you may want to consider the Suzuki Splash 1.0GLS, since if you add any extras to the Expression it will be around the same price and the Suzuki comes better equipped.

Resale values of the Agila are nothing special but there’s always plenty of demand due to the increased interest in smaller cars.